What would you have done

[deerhunter_98520]

Thursday afternoon I ran across 3 cows and a 4 pt bull that had me dead to rights standing in the middle of a cut, I just sat there and watched as the lead cow hurried out of the cut and into the timber with the others following. I know they have been in the cut last daily sometime or another so I backed out of there hoping for a chance at him in the morning. No luck as they never showed so I decided to try and track them down. I followed the bull tracks for about 1/3 mile till i found him in his bed. I'm 95% sure he winded me, I had him at 45-50 yds in open timber and he got up out of his bed and started walking away from me. I let out one cow chirp hoping he would turn to give me a shot but no dice. I let him walk till out of sight and I started tracking again but he just went deeper so I backed out again hoping he would show back up but no luck.....I did hear him tearing up a trees about 300 yds away so I know he wasn't spooked to bad....how many of you would have just kept tracking him and hoping to catch up for a shot? I thought I did the right thing but it didn't pan out and I know that's hunting I just didn't wanna bust him out of the country.

[Rider]

With all due respect, I think you did the right thing. Sometimes the best shot is the one not taken.

[coachcw]

if he winded you most likely he wouldn't respond to a call , if he saw you and didn't wind you then there's a chance . possibly if he bedded again you could put a stalk on him. you probably  did the right thing .

[deerhunter_98520]

I thought I did the right thing at the time bit always like to get others opinions and learn from it....he was bedded behind a huge ceder tree laying on the ground and I hear him get up as soon as I got even with the log and the wind switched in his direction...he never once looked at me though but figured I was done...it was still a fun experience to track him down and get so close but not as fun as a few days before having a 340"+ rosie at 60 yds bugling with no shot  I'll never forget that bull

[longrangekiller]

I would say backing out was the right thing maybe could of tried cutting him off but maybe that wasn't a option that probably wouldn't work either it's better to back out and not spook them and maybe get a second chance then it is to spook em and never get a chance again


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[deerhunter_98520]

Glad to hear everyone else thought the same way I did...it was hard being so close to him...I have yet to get an elk and its my 8th archery season...closer and closer every year

[wapiti hunter2]

The best part of hunting is the hunting. Not the kill. looks like you are having a great season. Making memories.

[deerhunter_98520]

Lots of memories for sure....It has been the best start to a season by far....I'm not upset I didnt get an elk but would have liked to  ...my buddy missed a trophy rosie because of a deflected arrow on a branch, I was 60 yds from this bull but no shot because of branches, I had my close encounter with the 4pt, had 4 CLOSE  encounters with bears 2 under 15' (glad they ran the opposite way as I didn't know they were there) heard a cougar screaming, tried to find it but no luck.  Seen over 100 grouse, lost lots of arrows with them  and got to share camp for a week with a good buddy 

[WSU]

I don't think he smelled you.  If he did, he would have blown out of there.  I would have come up with a plan and tried to kill him.

[pianoman9701]

When you heard him raking the trees was your opportunity to run up and put an arrow in him. He wasn't spooked if he was raking. Circle him if the wind isn't right but run in. Forget the calls because you already know he doesn't care about them. 

[deerhunter_98520]

Well there lies the issue...where he went was a nasty brush hole and my buddy was already down wind hoping he would follow the main herd out...this was just a satalite bull...and if I would have circled back the other way wind would have been right in his direction....the reason I say he winded me was I was very quiet and moving very slowly...there was moss and pine needles covering the forest floor, I didn't snap a twig or anything when he got up...maybe he just got that feeling something was up 

[pianoman9701]

My limited experience is that when an elk older than a yearling winds you, they bust the hell out ASAP, making no mistake about it.  There are a lot of more successful elk hunters on here who may have different opinions. But when they just walk away, it's for a reasons which has little to do with your presence.

[Astonb86]

Definitely right decision not bumping him out, and I agree if he winded you he'd get out of there in a hurry. Odds are good that he is still in the area. I myself would have done the same thing, I wouldnt risk a 45-50 yard shot in the timber but thats because I have limited experience.

[deerhunter_98520]

I agree  about them busting out ..it happened all week with cows  the bull my buddy shot at just looked at him and just walked off without a care in the world but we had the wind good also...we let him walk figuring he would bed down again and a few miles later we lost his tracks...as far as the shot I had clear shooting lanes in several directions just wouldn't give me a broadside and he was at my max...if he would have stood up broadside without moving any farther it would have been a perfect situation for that distance